RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Here's a list of the 20 largest children's ministries in America for 2017. 

Though size and growth are not the only signs of spiritual health, they are important indicators. 

There is much that can be learned from these children's ministries.  I would encourage you to click on the links and check out their websites.

I've had the honor of working with many of these ministries and personally know many of their leaders.  They are the real deal and care deeply about the kids and families in their cities and communities.  They give everything they have to reach people.  It's not about numbers for them.  It's about the individuals those numbers represent.  They know each number represents a person and each person is someone Jesus died for and longs to redeem.

A few years ago, I started a round table gathering for the children's ministry leaders on this list.  We meet once a year and spend two days sharing ideas, brainstorming, praying and learning from each other.  If you'd like to see the notes from this year's meeting, it is available in this recent post.

Though these churches are reaching tens of thousands of kids and families, they're just scratching the surface.  There are still millions of people across the country who need Jesus.  In fact, there are over 74 million children in America right now with 9,000 babies being born each day.

That's why every church, no matter the size, must go all out to reach kids and families.  As long as there are kids and families who don't know Jesus, we must continue to do our best to reach people with the Gospel and help them become fully devoted followers of Jesus.

1. Highland Kids at Church of the Highlands

2. Waumba Land, Upstreet and Kidstuf at Northpoint
    Community Church

3. Gateway Kids at Gateway Church

4. Crossroads Kids Club at Crossroads Church

5. CCV Kids at Christ Church of the Valley

6. Saddleback Kids at Saddleback Community Church

7. CFKids at Christ Fellowship Church

8. Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church

9. eKIDZ at Elevation Church

10. Southeast Kids at Southeast Christian Church

11. Kid-O-Deo and Elevate at Eagle Brook Church

12. Second Kids at Second Baptist Church

13. Kingdom Kids at Mt. Zion Baptist Church

14. Summit Kids at Flatirons Community Church

15. Port Mariner's Kids at Mariners Church

16. Bayside Kids at Bayside Church

17. K12 at 12Stone Church

18. kidVenture Island at LCBC Church

19. Family Christian Center Kids at Family Christian
      Center

20. Rock Kids at Rock Church

*This is based on Outreach Magazine's Largest Church Report 2017 and is comprised of churches who reported their attendance to the editors.

Here's a list of the 20 largest children's ministries in America for 2016.  Though size and growth are not the only signs of spiritual health, they are important indicators.  Anything that has life grows.  God tells us to go out and compel people to come so His house will be full.  You can't reach empty seats.

There is much that can be learned from these children's ministries.  I would encourage you to click on the links and check out their websites.

Though these churches are reaching tens of thousands of kids and families, they're just scratching the surface.  There are still millions of people across the country who need Jesus.  That's why every church, no matter the size, must go all out to reach kids and families.

1.   Waumba Land, Upstreet and Kidstuf at Northpoint
      Community Church
2.   Highland Kids at Church of the Highlands
3.   KidSpring at NewSpring Church
4.   Amazing Kids at Gateway Church
5.   Saddleback Kids at Saddleback Community Church
6.   Promiseland at Willow Creek Community Church
7.   CCV Kids at Christ Church of the Valley
8.   CFKids at Christ Fellowship Church
9.   Southeast Kids at Southeast Christian Church
10. Crossroads Kids Club at Crossroads Church
11. eKIDZ at Elevation Church
12. Kid-O-Deo and Elevate at Eagle Brook Church
13. Second Kids at Second Baptist Church
14. Planet Kids, Gravity, The Edge and The Ride at
      Woodlands Church
15. Summit Kids Ministry at Flatirons Community Church
16. Children's Ministry at King Jesus International Ministry
17. Port Mariner's Kids at Mariners Church
18. Kingdom Kids at Mt. Zion Baptist Church
19. K12 at 12 Stone Church
20. Family Christian Center Kids at Family Christian
      Center

*This list is based on the 2016 Largest Churches in America report by Outreach magazine.

As great as national conferences are, rarely are they experiences volunteers can enjoy.  Cost and distance typically prohibit them from the growth and inspiration these events offer.

This is why Illuminate is a GAME-CHANGER!  The Illuminate Conference, the brain-child of Kenny Conley and the Children’s Ministry staff at Gateway Church, is strategically staged to equip, empower, and encourage volunteers.

Illuminate offers a national-conference, high-quality experience at a ‘volunteer’ location and price.  Illuminate features internationally recognized leaders as well as dozens of the most innovative and strategic kidmin practitioners today.

I'll be speaking at the Illuminate Conference in Ft. Lauderdale on Saturday, March 2.  I'll be presenting two breakouts for Children's Ministry Leaders.

• 10 KidMin Leadership Lessons That Will Make You Invaluable to Your Pastor
  Do you want to be a KidMin leader who adds value to your Pastor?  Discover leadership keys that will help your ministry make an impact not only on children…but the entire church.  Apply these to your ministry and you'll soon be moved to the office with a view.

• 10 Simple Secrets to Building a Great Volunteer Team
  Do you need more volunteers?  The success of your ministry depends on the strength of the volunteer team you build.  Here's 10 simple secrets that will help you enlist, equip, and empower a great team of volunteers.  These are proven methods that you can put into practice immediately.

If you live in Central or South Florida, I'd enjoy connecting with you at this conference.  I'll be bringing several of my team with. me.  I hope you can join us.  You can register here.